Chattanooga and the surrounding region face many issues related to growth and development, including the pros and cons of major projects such as the new Lookout Stadium and the future of McDonald Farms and The Bend. These projects, along with multiple apartment/townhome developments popping up every month, have put a spotlight on the region’s growth.
But when we talk about growth, we must not lose sight of our nation’s most vulnerable, who need the help of their communities now more than ever. For Chattanooga, it’s the homeless community.
There are some bright spots
Chattanooga’s 2023 homelessness count showed the number of unsheltered people has decreased by 40% from 2022. The total number of people experiencing homelessness, including those living in temporary shelters, has decreased by 32%, according to city data.
While we are making progress, it doesn’t hurt to emphasize the need for education about who the homeless are and what we can do to help them find stability and security.
We need a lot of help to solve homelessness and shorten the cycle in which people move from homelessness to housing.
We need dedicated social workers, city administrators, and activists, as well as landlords and property owners willing to take the plunge and take in people experiencing homelessness.
The city is committing human and financial resources to this challenge to increase housing options for homeless people and encourage landlords to be part of the solution.
solution partner
David Grabiner is one of 175 landlords and property owners who are partnering with the city to take in people experiencing homelessness as tenants. He learned about the city’s efforts in recent years while serving as a member of the Landlord Association. He decided to consider his options. His research inspired him to participate. That was five years ago.
In making the decision to admit people experiencing homelessness as tenants, Mr. Grabiner decided to provide as many tenants as reasonably possible through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8). applied his philosophy of casting a wide net to attract.
“What really kills landlord profits is sales and vacancies,” Grabiner said in a phone interview Wednesday. “If you have a vacancy for two months out of the year, your profit is zero. My goal has always been to reduce vacancies and reduce sales, so I always try to get the highest rent possible. We weren’t doing that. That’s what I was doing. We’re trying to get tenants who will stay, and if we have vacancies, we can fill them faster.”
Grabiner has 200 duplexes and apartments located throughout the Hamilton County and North Georgia areas, including Red Bank, East Ridge, and Rossville, Georgia.
According to data from the city’s Department of Homeless Support and Housing, the city has reportedly helped and assisted 505 people so far in fiscal year 2024. Last year, 778 people were detained.
OHSH provides assistance to many people experiencing homelessness in many different ways.
“The clients we work with are brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have experienced financial or other hardship,” Casey Tinker, director of the Chattanooga Homeless Initiative, said Wednesday. ” he said. “They are primarily what we call ‘Category 1’, meaning they live on the streets, under bridges and in cars. I need help navigating the system.”
meaningful progress
It is clear that there is still work to be done to help the homeless population. OHSH says both the Airport Inn on Lee Highway and his low-barrier shelter on 12th Street are currently stranded. Neither is expected to be renovated and put into service this year.
The government’s response can be frustratingly slow, so the best we can do for now is to stay focused on what’s at hand while planning for improvements to homelessness services in the future.
Chattanooga has had some wins. People who are struggling to obtain stable housing situations are receiving aid and support. Never underestimate the power and value of a solid roof over your family’s head. Employment prospects improve, children grow up, and personal health and well-being improves.
Breaking the cycle of homelessness is not just about housing people. It may depend on whether we all unlearn the harmful stereotypes that prevent us from seeing these people and the potential for change.
It takes all of us.